We Took a Bus Tour. It Changed How We See Our Stuff.

What’s an eco bus tour, you ask? It’s exactly what it sounds like: a guided group trip to some of the coolest, most sustainable spots around town. It’s part field trip, part community hangout, and part wake-up call - all packed into one day. Our goal? To show people that sustainability doesn’t have to be boring, judgmental, or overwhelming. It can be approachable. Inspiring. Even fun.

So at the end of July, we filled a bus with 30 people - some of whom flew in just to join us - and set out on a one-day adventure around Omaha. From thrift shops to compost piles, we explored the real-world ways our community is changing how we deal with waste, consumption, and the choices we make every day.

Here’s where we went - and why it mattered.

Clothes Mentor (Meet-Up) - 14937 Evans Plaza, Omaha, NE 68116
Our day started at Clothes Mentor, a women’s resale shop. Buying secondhand is one of the easiest ways to reduce waste, and this place proves you don’t have to sacrifice style to be sustainable.

Eden’s Preserve - 16902 Wright Plaza #185, Omaha, NE 68130
Next, we visited Eden’s Preserve - a boutique filled with earth-friendly home goods, skincare, and gifts. Shopping here feels less like consumerism and more like care: for your body, your space, and the planet.

Hillside Solutions Compost Farm (Ashland, NE)
Then came the part people really didn’t expect to enjoy… visiting a compost farm. But here’s the thing: we make trash fun. At Hillside, composting isn’t a smelly afterthought. It’s a system that transforms food waste into living soil. We showed how schools, churches, and businesses keep thousands of pounds of organics out of the landfill—and how we turn it into something good. People left laughing, learning, and surprisingly pumped about their banana peels. Want to visit yourself? Here’s what to know.

Rooted Table - 8705 Shamrock Rd, Omaha, NE 68114

We refueled at Rooted Table, where plant-based meals met real talk about food systems, thanks to a quick session from Jamie Brown at Eco-Products. Jamie’s our go-to rep who helps us bring compostable packaging to the businesses we work with - and she kept it real..real fun! Thank you for coming into town, sharing laughs and discussing packaging choices that truly affect the bigger picture in the best way possible. It was lunch with a side of, “Whoa, I never thought about that.”

Wait, wait, wait… what is that? Eco-Products is a company that creates compostable foodservice packaging—like cups, plates, utensils, and takeout containers—built to reduce waste and actually work in commercial composting systems. Their materials come from renewable sources like:

PLA (a compostable bioplastic made from plants)
Bagasse (a fibrous byproduct of sugarcane)
Recycled paper and post-consumer content

Their products are perfect for cafés, restaurants, and events that want to ditch landfill-bound plastics for something that makes sense in a composting loop.

Interested in using Eco-Products for your business?
Reach out to Samantha Nieman at 👉 samantha@hillside.solutions to get started. Let’s do it!

St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store - 12301 W Center Rd, Omaha, NE 68144
Then it was back to thrifting. We scored deals, supported a nonprofit, and gave clothes another life. Shopping secondhand isn’t about deprivation—it’s about finding gems without feeding the waste cycle.

Exist Green - 4914 Underwood Ave (Dundee, NE)
This zero-waste shop showed us what’s possible: reusable goods, bulk refills, and sustainable swaps that actually work in real life.

Back to Clothes Mentor
We wrapped the day right where we started—but with new eyes. What once looked like “just a thrift shop” now felt like a smart, easy climate solution. Andrea McCarter poured wine for all to celebrate the day.

Because the words “eco-friendly” and “waste management” often get a bad rap.

So, why did we do this? People think of guilt, rules, or extra effort. But the truth is: it doesn’t have to be that way.

This tour showed us that sustainability is already happening in our community - and it’s creative, hands-on, and surprisingly joyful. When you meet the people behind it, ask the questions, and see it up close, things click. It becomes real.

We're not here to make anyone feel bad. We’re here to make them feel curious. Connected. And maybe even excited about compost. And yes - we’ll do it again.